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Where did the devil come from? Did God create the devil? How could a God of love create the devil? Many decide that God seriously erred in this area, so we should not put our trust in Him. But we must get our facts from the Bible.
God Did Not Create the Devil as We Know Him
Satan did not come out as the devil we know. In fact, he used to be a high ranking angel. But a chain of events resulted in him becoming the evil we know him as today.
Lucifer’s Fall From Heaven
The Bible gives us this information about the devil before his fall
“You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God. . . You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you. By the abundance of your trading you became filled with violence within, and you sinned; Therefore I cast you as a profane thing out of the mountain of God; And I destroyed you, o covering cherub, from the midst of the fiery stones. Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings that they might gaze at you” (Ezekiel 28:12–17 NKJV).
Cherubim are depicted in Scripture as powerful and majestic angelic creatures who surround God’s throne. And Lucifer had once been a guardian cherub. Ironically, after Adam and Eve succumbed to the devil’s temptations, disobeyed God, and were expelled from Eden, God sent cherubim to guard Eden (Genesis 3:24).
Since Lucifer had been the model of perfection, what sort of sin led to his fall? His heart became proud because of his incredible beauty. Lucifer allowed his perfection to be the cause of his corruption.
God’s Judgment on Lucifer
Lucifer was not satisfied with worshiping God; instead, he wanted to be worshiped. Once a beautiful, powerful angel of God, he lost his former, exalted position in Heaven.
“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit” (Isaiah 14:12–15 NKJV).
Lucifer (“son of the morning”) became Satan (“accuser”) when he fell to the earth. Jesus, speaking of this event, said, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from Heaven” (Luke 10:18 NKJV).
The Devil’s Followers
When the devil fell, he did not fall alone. Scripture tells us that he took one-third of the angels (Revelation 12:4). They account for the fallen angels, or demons, that now do his bidding. As a result, Satan is a fallen, but powerful, spirit-being with a well-organized network of demon powers to help him accomplish his purposes. Those purposes, according to Jesus, are to “steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10).
That’s the bad news. The good news is that two-thirds of the angels are on our side! As the prophet Elisha said to his servant, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (2 Kings 6:16 NKJV).
As Christians, we have an even greater asset than the majority of angels on our side: Jesus Christ, who conquered Satan at the cross of Calvary, is also on our side!
Satan starts with the mind.
When Satan wanted to lead the first man and woman into sin, he started by attacking the mind. Scripture says, “I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3 NIV).
Satan hits here first because he knows that the mind is the place where we reason, contemplate, and fantasize. That is why the Bible urges us to bring “every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). If the devil can just get us to think about carrying out a particular sin, that will help him to accomplish his purposes. You can never truly say, “The devil made me do it.” The tempter needs cooperation from the tempted.
Satan’s allies
Satan works with two close allies: the world and the flesh.
The term the world refers to the way the world operates now, which is hostile to God. The world system encourages living for personal gratification and putting our own will above all else. “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (1 John 5:19).
The term the flesh refers to the sinful nature that lives to be gratified; unrestrained sensual appetites. “For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father, but is of the world” (1 John 2:16).
When the devil tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1–7), he stirred up the sinful nature in her. He did this through a clever line of reasoning.
He questioned God’s Word (verse 1). He did not deny that God had spoken. He simply questioned whether God had really said what Eve thought He had said.
He questioned God’s love for Eve (verse 1). The way Satan asked this question implies that he was questioning God’s love. “If God really loved you, He wouldn’t keep something from you, would He?” Satan used this same tactic on Jesus in the wilderness: “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread” (Luke 4:3). In other words, “Why are you hungry if you are God’s Son?” As the author Tennyson once said, “A lie that is all of a lie can be met with and fought outright. But a lie that is partly the truth is a harder matter to fight.”
He denied God’s Word (verse 4). Satan finally threw out God’s warning altogether, telling Eve, “You will not surely die.” It is but a short step from questioning God’s Word to denying it. If Eve had not listened to Satan questioning God’s Word, she would never have fallen into Satan’s trap when he denied God’s Word. Eve was at the wrong place, at the wrong time, listening to the wrong person, which ultimately led to her doing the wrong thing.
He substituted his own lie (verse 5). Satan told Eve that if she eats from the tree, she “will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Interestingly, this was Satan’s own sin, for he had attempted to take God’s place.
Eve saw that the tree “was pleasant to the eyes” (verse 6). This is the lust of the eyes. Satan uses this trap to try to get people to entertain fantasies in their thought life. Unfortunately, those fantasies often turn into reality.
Eve saw that the tree “was good for food” (verse 6). Having seen it, she tasted it. This is the lust of the flesh. Likewise, Satan wants us to gratify our desires immediately, whatever they might be—food, sleep, sex, pleasure, possessions, etc.
Eve saw that the tree was “desirable to make one wise” (verse 6). This is the pride of life. Satan wants us to desire to be exalted, to develop an attitude of arrogance.
Eve had a choice to make—she could believe God’s word or Satan’s word. Tragically, she chose to believe Satan, the father of Lies, rather than the One who is Truth.
We should never underestimate the devil. He is a sly and skillful foe, with many years of experience in dealing with humankind. Yet, he does have some serious limitations—especially in the life of the believer.
In the Old Testament book of Job, we get some clear insights into Satan’s power and limitations, an inside look at how the devil operates:
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. And the LORD said to Satan, ‘From where do you come?’ So Satan answered the LORD and said, ‘From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.’ Then the LORD said to Satan, ‘Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?’ So Satan answered the LORD and said, ‘Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land'” (Job 1:6–10).
Even after his fall, Satan still has access to the throne of God. Though Satan lost his once high-ranking position, he still can personally see God. In spite of his power and wicked agenda, Satan has to seek God’s permission before he does anything to the child of God because of the “hedge of protection” God has put around his children.
While God did allow Satan to test Job through various tragedies (death of servants, stolen goods, deadly storms, loss of children, and sickness), God gave Satan this restriction: “Do not lay a hand on his person” (Job 1:12). The devil’s demon forces must also receive God’s permission to do certain things. In Mark 5:1–20, when Jesus cast out a group of demons named “Legion,” the demons asked Jesus for permission to enter a herd of pigs.
In another interesting incident, we read that Satan specifically asked to test the disciple Simon Peter by name. Jesus told Peter, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you” (Luke 22:31–32). What an encouragement it is to know that Jesus intercedes for us during our times of testing! God also knows our breaking point, and He will never give us more than we can handle (1 Corinthians 10:13).
The moment you became a Christian, a spiritual war began. This battle is not between flesh and blood. It is a spiritual battle with a very real devil. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). When Paul wrote that, he was describing a life-and-death, mortal hand-to-hand combat.
While it is true that your eternal destiny changes, you pass from darkness to light, you find new purpose and meaning in life, and Heaven rejoices once you accept Jesus Christ into your heart and life, something else takes place: a spiritual war begins. It has been said, “Conversion makes our hearts a battlefield.”
The believer may be known by his inward warfare as much as by his inward peace. Many Christians do not understand this dynamic of the Christian life. They think that they are set free from the power and ensuing vices that sin brings. They think they are free to just go their own way and do whatever they want to do.
But we are not set free to merely enjoy ourselves. We are set free to do battle and engage in the fight, to overcome in our own lives, and to become channels by which others are set free.
Martin Luther described this battle well in his hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”: “For still our ancient foe, doth seek to work us woe; his craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal.”
Before you came to Christ, the devil wanted to stop you. Once you heard the message of salvation, Satan wanted to take away the Word that was sown in your heart (Mark 4:15). If he was unsuccessful in those attempts, he will next try to entrap you in some kind of sin.
Just as surely as there is a God who loves you and has a plan for your life, there is a devil who hates you and wants to destroy your life.
Adam and Eve failed to use the weapon God has given us during times of temptation: the Word of God (also called “the sword of the Spirit”). Jesus, during His time of temptation in the wilderness, chose to use this weapon to show us its power. While He could have used His divine authority and power to ward off His enemy, He responded to Satan’s distortions of Scripture with accurate recitations of God’s Word.
Like Jesus, we need to “rightly divide the word of truth” when Satan comes to us with his lies and accusations (2 Timothy 2:15).
How can you avoid his traps and temptations? Second Timothy 2:22 gives us the key: “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
Flee temptation and don’t leave a forwarding address!
Do you ever get sick and tired of being attacked by the devil? In your Christian walk, does it ever seem like you take one step forward and two steps back? Have you ever felt condemned in your sin and wanted to just give up the fight?
If you said “yes” to any of the above, then I have good news for you: Your life does not have to continue on this way! The Bible gives us a plan of action to overcome the devil and his tactics. First, however, you need to be able to identify his strategy.
The devil’s two-fold strategy
The devil first tries to bring us down by trapping us in sin. If he is successful, he then attempts his accusation. The Bible actually refers to him as “the accuser of the brethren” (Revelation 12:10). Satan does not just lead a Christian into sin and leave him or her to suffer the consequences. He wants the disobedient Christian to be doubly defeated.
Consider this account in Zechariah: “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. And the LORD said to Satan, ‘The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?'” (Zechariah 3:1–2).
The setting is that of a courtroom: God is the judge. Joshua the high priest is the defendant. Satan is the prosecutor trying to prove Joshua’s guilt.
Satan still uses this tactic with great effect. When you and I have disobeyed God, he moves in for that finishing stroke. He accuses you: “You call yourself a Christian?” “Do you really think that God will hear your prayer?” “You’re not worthy to approach God after what you’ve done.”
Before we sin, while he is tempting us, the devil whispers, “You can get away with this.” After we sin, he shouts, “You will never get away with this!”
Does this mean that every time we feel a sense of guilt or shame, it comes from the devil? Of course not. We simply must learn to distinguish between Satan’s accusations and the Holy Spirit’s conviction. If those feelings drive us to despair and hopelessness, then we’ve listened to the wrong voice.
The difference between conviction and accusation
When the Spirit of God convicts you:
When Satan accuses you:
True conviction from the Spirit will move you closer to the Lord.
Judas listened to the devil and went out and hanged himself in complete despair. Peter looked in the face of Jesus and wept bitterly, but later came back into fellowship with Christ. Don’t let anything keep you from coming to the cross and repenting of your sin and experiencing the wonderful, cleansing work of forgiveness in your life!
Our access to God’s throne has nothing to do with what we’ve done, but everything to do with what Christ has done and is doing. Look again at the courtroom scene in Zechariah 3:1–2. Joshua stands condemned. Satan goes in for the kill and is suddenly stopped in his tracks. Why? God says that Joshua is His, “brand plucked from the fire.”
Our defense against the devil is the interceding Son of God.
“And the Lord said [to Peter]. . . ‘Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you'” (Luke 22:31–32).
“My little children, these things I write to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1).
“Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us” (Romans 8:33).
What if I don’t feel worthy of God’s forgiveness?
The truth is, even on your best day you never were worthy of anything God offers to you—and you never will be. Therefore, do not approach God on the basis of what you’ve done, but rather on the basis of what He has done for you.
God “predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:5–7).
The devil does not want you to know this one thing: He was soundly defeated at the cross. Prior to His crucifixion on the cross, Jesus said, “Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out” (John 12:31).
If Jesus’ death at Calvary was powerful and complete, why is Satan still at work?
Satan is still at work because God has allowed it. This is a temporary situation. Satan knows well his future judgment is imminent.
In addition, Satan can do nothing in the life of the Christian without the permission of God. No one can take you out of God’s hand, and absolutely nothing can separate you from His love for you (see John 10:29; Romans 8:35–39).
Armed and ready for the battle
When Jesus died upon the cross, Satan once and for all lost his grasp on humanity (see Colossians 2:14). Therefore, we are not fighting to obtain victory; we are resting in the victory He has obtained! We don’t fight for victory, but rather from it. This is the Lord’s battle, and not our own personal war. And God has given us the weapons to fight temptation’s pull.
Ephesians 6:11–17 details each piece of the armor of God. Note that it is essential that we implement all of it. We are not told to pick and choose what we think is important. Every article plays a significant part. The armor of God is composed of six pieces. The first three (the belt, the breastplate, and the shoes) were designed for long-range preparation and protection. They were never taken off on the battlefield. The second three (the shield, the helmet, and the sword) were kept in readiness for use when the actual fighting began.
All of these articles largely represent defensive gear, with the exception of one: the sword. The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. During His temptation in the wilderness, Jesus modeled exactly how we are to use this weapon. Every time Satan tempted Him, Jesus came back with a scripture to counter Satan’s enticements.
Here are a few of Satan’s lies and accusations, and key verses to keep in mind as you prepare to battle him.
Commit Scripture to memory.
“Thy Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11).
“The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide” (Psalm 37:31).
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8).
Remember these three things:
Unsheathe your sword, Christian, and stop being beaten down. The next time the devil reminds you of your past, you remind him of his future.
Much of the content on this page was taken from Harvest.org, which is a fantastic resource for people at all stages of the Christian walk.
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